Rubio must school Pompeo about threat of rising sea levels

The confirmation hearing for CIA Director Mike Pompeo to become the next U.S. secretary of state provides an important opportunity to highlight the threat sea-level rise poses to Florida. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has a key role to play as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Florida knows the costly impacts of tidal floodwater in our streets. Tidal flooding is projected to grow and could cause much more havoc as soon as 2030 if no action is taken to harden our coasts.

It’s not just Miami and Fort Lauderdale. All parts of the state from Jacksonville to Key West are vulnerable. A new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analysis shows that Florida roadways are the most impacted by flooding of any state, and even conservative projections show that it can only get worse.

We need to recognize that sea-level rise is a major challenge now and in the future. Our response should be twofold: First, we should make our coasts and our economy more resilient (forward-looking communities are already beginning this process); and second, we need to reduce the emissions that cause this problem.

Our military is keenly aware of this threat and already is taking action to protect coastal bases from storm surge and erosion.

The U.S. has always been at its best when we act decisively and aggressively to deal with problems like this.

Rubio has a critical opportunity to represent Florida at the hearings for Pompeo. As secretary of state, Pompeo would be responsible for protecting our national interests, and he will be the chief strategist in foreign negotiations regarding global climate agreements.

Both science and current experience show us that rising seas are a threat to Florida, the nation and other critical parts of the world. The threat will only multiply if we do not prepare and join the global response.

Unfortunately, Pompeo has been a denier of climate change. This is an opportunity for Rubio, on behalf of the people of Florida, to help Pompeo to revise his views and to help us protect Florida’s future, and in so doing help ensure our national security in a rapidly changing world.

We need Rubio to represent Florida at this critical juncture and make certain that the next U.S. secretary of state understands the challenge ahead.

LEONARD BERRY, BOCA RATON Editor’s note: Leonard Berry is professor emeritus of geosciences at Florida Atlantic University.